Casing interliner with anchoring means



W. B. BERRY CASING INTERLINER WITH ANCHORING MEANS Filed April 2o, 19652 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.3

FIG.2

INVENTO WILLIAM B. BERRY W. B. BERRY Dec. 5, 1967 CASING INTERLINER WITHANCHORING MEANS Filed April 2o, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 RW. OR .IE NnD tWB. M Al" l. Hh. W

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O 3,356,144 CASING INTERLINER WITH ANCHORING MEANSWilliam B. Berry, P.0. Box 1951, Clarksburg. W. Va. 25327 Filed Apr. 20,1965, Ser. No. 449,544 6 Claims. (Cl. 166-208) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSUREanchoring or securing said boot or interliner in the well casing. Thisabstract is neither intended to define the invention of the applicationwhich, of course, is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to belimiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

In an oil well operation a production string of tubing or casing is setin the customary manner and then subjected to a perforating operation atthe level of what is believed to be a production zone. The next step isusually to subject this zone to a stimulation treatment by injectingfluid under pressure which may contain certain additives, such as sandor a chemical. This procedure enables the zone to be ruptured andpassageways to 'be formed therein while at the same time maintainingsaid passageways in a substantially open or porous state through whichthe oil or gas may flow into the casing by way of the perforations.After a zone has been so treated, it is often found desirable to isolateor seal oif same so that another zone at a point either above or belowthis zone may be subjected to the same type of treatment.

In order to seal oif a treated zone, a sealant member, in the form of anelongated hollow sleeve or boot and formed from a suitable resilientmaterial, is lowered into the casing and so positioned as to overlie andeffectively seal the perforations in the casing. The sealant member orinterliner has an external diameter such that it will conform closely tothe drift size of the tubing or casing and being formed from a resilientmaterial said interliner can be readily maintained in engagement withthe casing with or without any well head pressure. The use of such asealant member constitutes the subject matter of applicants copendingapplication Serial No. 362,442, filed April 24, 1964, and wherein thepresent application is an improvement thereof. While the sealant memberas disclosed in said application is readily capable of sealing theperforations in a well casing in the manner as set forth hereinabove, ithas been `determined that said sealant member is susceptible of beingdislodged in said casing during the perforating and stimulating of alower zone or formation.

In multi-zone operations, it is quite often necessary and feasible toisolate a producing zone in order to effectively fracture and stimulatea lower zone or bearing strata. An interliner in the *form of a hollowsleeve or boot is first placed within the well casing so as to overliethe perforations of the zone to 'be isolated. The lower zone is thenperforated by routing the necessary equipment through the boot topuncture the casing after which the zone is stimulated by the fracturinguids and agents which first ow through said boot and then out throughthe perforations in the casing. The friction drag created by the passageof fluids through said boot or sleeve can be such as to cause the bootor sleeve to become dislodged from the casing and move down with thefluid. In addition, it has been ascertained that in retrieving the bootor sleeve from the casing the use of a lubricant to reduce drag of theboot on the casing could readily cause the boot to lose its wall grip onthe casing and to slip downwardly in said casing. In either event, suchan operation would result in an uncovering of the perforations in theisolated or upper zone. The present invention is designed to preventsuch movement of the boot or sleeve after it has been positioned withinthe casing.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a well casingboot or interliner having anchoring means thereon for engaging saidcasing to insure the retention and positioning of the boot or interlinertherein.

Another object is to provide' an elongated resilient sealant member inthe form of a boot which is positioned Within a perforated zone of aWell casing with means thereon for engaging said casing to prevent themovement of said boot in at least one direction in said casing.

Another object is to provide an elongated resilient interliner in theform of a boot or sleeve having spring actuated latch members mounted onthe external surface thereof and arranged to engage the inner surface ofa well casing for retaining said interliner in sealing engagement with aperforated zone of said casing.

A Ifurther object is to provide a unitary resilient boot or interlinerof elongated tubular configuration that is positioned within a wellcasing to effectively seal a perforated zone and wherein said boot isprovided at each end thereof with a plurality of spring actuated latcheswhich engage the inner surface of said casing and permit said boot tomove in only one direction therein.

Still further objects are to provide a resilient sealant vboot orinterliner that is positive in its operation, economical of manufactureand which is readily recoverable from a well casing and susceptible ofrepetitive use. l

Other objects and advantages, Amorevor less ancillary to the foregoingin the manner in which all of the various objects are realized, willappear in the following description, which, when considered inconnection with the acompanying drawings,"set`s forth thefpreferredembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings wherein the bodiment of the invent-ionisillustrated:

PIGUREl is a vertical sectional view of a cased earth well showing thecasing perforated at a fractured zone and illustrating conventional wellhead equipment;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of a portion of thecasing of the Well of FIGURE 1 showing a sealant boot or interlinerpositioned over the perforations at a fractured zone;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detailed view of a fragmentary portion of thesealant boot and showing one of the locks or anchoring members mountedthereon;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view of one of the preferred emlocks oranchoring members mounted in and carried by the sealant boot orinterliner, the view being taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view showing the various parts of a lock oranchoring member; and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective View showing the various parts of the lock oranchoring member illustrated in FIGURE 5 in their assembled position.

Referring to FIGURE l of the drawings, there is shown a conventionalwell bore having disposed therein the usual outer or surface casing 10,which has mounted therein, in the customary manner, an inside orproduction casing string 11 upon which is mounted a control valve 12.The production casing string 11 extends through the various formationsin the well bore and terminates at the end or bottom of said bore. Thecontrol valve 12 has connected thereto a well head assembly or unit 13that has supported thereon a well head lubricator or launch tubeassembly by which the well is maintained in locked internal controlregardless of pressures generated within the bore. The well headlubricator or launch tube assembly does not, in and of itself,constitute a part of the present invention, but same is employed in amulti-zone operation wherein it is necessary and essential to introduceinto the casin-g 11 various types of equipment or apparatus and it isessential that the pressurek be maintained within the well bore at alltimes that such apparatus or equipment is being introduced or removedtherefrom.

As concerns the present invention, it will suffice to state that thewell head lubricator is provided with a cross head structure 14 that hascontrol valves 15. The cross head has supported thereon in operativerelation therewith a launch tube control valve 16, which in turn,supports a launch tube 17 that is provided with a quick coupling 18 tofacilitate its ready attachment or detachment from the control valve 16so that various pieces of apparatus or equipment may be either insertedinto the launch tube orremoved therefrom. It is through the use of thevalves 12 and 16 that the pressure within the well bore may bemaintained and also introduced into the launch tube so` that thepressure within the launch tube will be equal to the well bore pressureand thus provide a balanced condition prior to the lowering ofequipmentory apparatus into the well bore. The inner or production casing string11 is shown, FIGURE l, as extending through what are considered to betwo potential producing formations A and B and furthermore, casing 11has been perforated atv formation A and said formation has beenstimulated by subjecting same to hydraulic fracturing so that the oil orgas may readily dow or pass from said formation to the well bore landthence, through the perforations into the casing or production string11. Thus, it becomes necessary to close or seal the perforations 1,9 inthe casing 11 opposite zone A before it is at all appropriate orfeasible to peiQIte the casingl in zone B and subject lohis z one to astimulation treatment by hydraulic fracturng.

A s shown in FIGURE V2 the casing 11l consists of a series ofl pipesections orlengths` of constant or uniform diameter that are joinedtogether by threaded couplings 29; which tend to, define or, produce aaan 21 between the lower and upper ends respectively of adjacent lengthsof pipe. C asing 11 has positioned therein a resilient sealant boot orinterliner 22that is hollow and of sufficient length tooverlie and seal`the perforations 1,9, The boot or interliner 2,2 in conjunction with itsdepending spring tension cage member 2,3 may be` positioned within thecasing 11 by any suitable apparatus, such as that shown in applicantsaforementioned copending application. The boot or interliner 22 ispreferably formed from some suitable resilient composition such asnatural rubberl and neoprene, with an external diameter such that itwill conform closely to the drift size of thecasing 1,1, and thus,effectively engage the sides of saidv casing. The interliner is` readilyCapable, 0f expanding, when SQ positioned in the casing,

due to its composition, and can therefore be retained in said expandedposition by thc pressure within said casing for effectively overlyingand sealing the perforated zone. The bore of the sealant boot orinterliner when in operative position within the casing 11 should be atits maximum diameter possible in order to permit the passage of varioustools and equipment therethrough in order that the casing 11 in zone Bcan be perforated and the formation within said zone be subjected tostimulation by hydraulic fracturing. In order to insure that theresilient boot or interliner 22 is maintained within its sealingposition within said casing and not susceptible to becoming dislodgedtherefrom, during the passage of tools and equipment therethrough,suitable locking means have been provided on the external surface of theboot or interliner for engagement with the inner surface of the casing11 at the gaps 21 between the ends of adjacent lengths of pipe.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the boot or interliner 22 is provided at each endwith a plurality of spring actuated locking members that are arranged toproject beyond the outer peripheral surface of the -boot or interlinerand engage the upper edge or end of one of the lengths of pipe at thegap 21 wherein the coupling 20 joins the upper end of one pipe to thelower end of another pipe. Inasmuch as the locking members are identicalin all respects, the following will be directed to the construction andoperation of a single locking member. The boot or interliner 22 isformed with recessed areas 24 on both its inner and outer faces, FIGURE4, at oppositely disposed points. The recessed areas 24 have positionedtherein inner and outer metallic plates 25 and 26, respectively, whichare secured in coplanar relation with the inner and outer surfaces ofthe boot and to one another by suitable means, such as rivets or pins27. The outer metallic plate 26 is provided with an elongated slot 28,FIGURES 4 and 5, which overlies a corresponding recess or groove 29 thatis formed in the outermost portion of the bootl 22 so that in effect theouter recess 2,4 is provided with a counter recess or groove 2,9 whichis spaced fromr the inner recess 24 and inner plate 25.

The outer plate 26 has formed on its inner face, contiguous the upperend of the slot 28, a boss or shoulder 31, which is of a widthcommensurate with that of the plate. 26 and arranged to project into therecess 29 formed in the boot 22. The lower or bottom surface of the bossor shoulder 31 is formed with an arcuate-shaped seat 32 that is adaptedto receive the cylindrical pin or axle portion 33. of a latch member-3,4. The axle or pin segment 33 of the latch member is retained inengagement with the seat 32 of the boss 31 by means of a keeper plate 35that is secured to .the outer surface of the boss 31v by any suitablemeans, such as a threaded member 36. The keeper plate 35 is fbifurcatedtov define a pair of segments 37 which are bent to conform to thecontour of they pin member 33 and arranged to partially encompass andretain said pin in engagement with the seat '32. An elongated tensionspring 39 arranged to overl'ie the keeper .plate 35 has one end secured,by means of a press fit, into a suitable opening 40 provided in the boss31 with the other end of said spring being likewise secured in anaperture 41 provided o n the rear face of the latch member 34. The latchmember 34 is, by the action of ther spring 39, caused to pivot on theseat 32 so that the greaterportion of the latch member is urgedoutwardly from the recess 29 and through the slot 28 in the plate 26.The outward movement of the latch -member is limited by stop or abutmentmember 4 2 that is formed at the lower end of the rear face ofl saidlatch member and which engages the inner surface of the outerl plate 26in the manner as shown in FIGURE 6. It is to be noted that the latchmember 34 is of a length commensurate with that of the elongated slot2,8 and is formed with an inclined forward face 43 that progressivelyincreases in thickness from the pin 33 to its lower or inclined bottomedge 44. Thus, the lowermost portion of the latch member 34 projects agreater distance through the slot 28 under the action of the tensionspring 39 and the bottom edge 44 due to its inclination is assured ofseating upon the upper edge of a length of pipe at a gap 21 and thus,prevents the boot or interliner from moving downwardly within the casingstring. The latch member 34 being pivotally mounted on the inner surfaceof the plate 26 and positioned within the recess 29 permits a movementinto the recess 29 so that the boot or interliner may be upwardly or inone direction within the casing string 11.

In using the boot or interliner 22 of the present invention within acasing string 11 for sealing a perforated area, the locking or latchmembers 34 may be positioned opposite a gap 21 formed by the coupling 20joining two lengths of pipe so that said latch members will project intosaid gap and seat upon the upper end of the lower pipe section. Thisarrangement will lock or anchor the boot or interliner within the casing11 so that it will be incapable of any further down hole movement in thecasing, but due to the inclined forward face 43 of the latch member 34,the boot or interliner may readily be drawn up through the casing 11 as.su-ch action will simply force the latch members into the recess 29against the action of the tension spring 39. In .the event that the bootor interliner is positioned within the casing string 11 so that thelatch members 34 are not opposite to or in engagement 'with a gap 21,the latch members will engage the inner surface of the casing stringunder the action of the spring 39. In this arrangement, the latchmembers 34 will only project a slight distance through the slots 28 inthe plates 26 as the external diameter of the boot will fbesubstantially the same as the internal diameter of the casing string.With the boot or interliner so positioned within the casing string,tools and equipment may be moved through the bore of the boot for thepurpose of perforating the casing at a lower zone and then subjectingsaid zone to a stimulating treatment. Thus, if the passage of tools andequipment through the bore of the boot or interliner should result in itbeing jarred or ina-dvertently moved, the direction of movement of theboot or interliner would be down hole and the distance or length oftravel would be relatively small. The latch members 34 are always inengagement with the inner surface of the casing 11, under the action ofthe springs 39, so that upon the latch members 34 moving into a gap 21,the bottom edge 44 would seat upon the upper end of a length of pipe andprevent any further down hole movement of the boot. As shown in FIGURE2, the boot or interliner is provided with a plurality of lockingmembers adjacent both the upper and lower ends thereof. Thus, the bootor interliner 22 would have to move down hole `only a relatively shortdistance before a locking member 34 at either the upper or lofwer endwould find a gap 21 at a casing joint, so that the boot would still beretained within the casing for effectively sealing the perforations inthe casing of the zone that had previously been treated.

Upon the completion of treating the lower zone, .the well operator maypermit the lower zone to operate as a producing one and still retain theupper zone in a sealed condition or state by means of the boot orinterliner, However, if it is decided to remove the boot or interlinerfrom its sealing position at the upper zone, a suitable recovery toolmay be lowered in the casing string 11 and engage the grab prongs 45 atthe top of the boot for eiectively removing or withdrawing the boot fromthe casing string.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailedcharacter, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, itis to be understood that the specic terminology is not intended to berestrictive or confining, and that various rearrangements of parts andmodications of detail may be resorted to without departing from thescope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

I claim:

1. A sealant boot yfor a well casing comprising an elongated tubularresilient member, a plate mounted on the outer face of said resilientmember in coplanar relationship therewith, a recess formed in sai-dresilient member beneath said plate, a slot formed in said plate andoverlying said recess, a boss formed on said plate superjacent said slotand arranged to extend into said recess, a latch member, a keeper platemounted on said boss and engaging said latch member .to retain same inpivotal engagement with said boss, said latch member positioned withinsaid recess, and means for -urging said latch member outwardly from saidrecess and through said slot.

2. A well casing sealant member comprising a resilient tubularinterliner, a member mounted on the outer face of said interliner, arecess formed in said interliner beneath said member, a slot formed insaid member and overlying said recess, an elongated element pivotallymounted on said member and positioned within said recess, and a springconnected to said element -for urging same outwardly from said recessand through said slot.

'3. A well casing interliner comprising an elongated tubular member ofresilient material, a substantially rigid flat member mounted on theouter face of said resilient member in coplanar relation therewith, arecess formed in said resilient member beneath said rigid member, a slotformed in said rigid member and overlying said recess, and a latchmember connected to said rigid member and positioned within said recessand means connected to said rigid member and engaging said latch memberfor moving same through said slot.

4. A well casing interliner comprising a tubular resilient member, apair of plates mounted on the inner and outer surfaces of said tubularresilient member in coplanar relationship therewith, means extendingthrough said resilient member and said plates for securing them to saidresilient member and one another, an elongated recess formed in aportion of said resilient member intermediate said plates, a slot formedin one of said plates and overlying said recess, a boss formed on saidone of said plates and extending into said recess, a seat formed on saidboss, a keeper plate mounted on said boss, an elongated latch memberpositioned in said recess and terminating in a transversely extendingpin member at one end thereof, said keeper plate having a pair ofdepending spaced segments engaging said pin member for retaining same inp-ivotal engagement with said seat, and a spring ailxed to said boss andengaging said latch mem-ber for pivotally urging same outwardly fromsaid recess and through said slot.

5. In a well casing consisting of a plurality of pipe lengths connectedin series by threaded couplings and forming gaps between adjacent pipelengths, an interliner comprising an elongated tubular resilient memberwhose external diameter is substantially equal to the internal diameterof said casing for engaging and gripping said casing when positionedtherein, a substantially rigid a-t member mounted on the outer face ofsaid resilient member in coplanar relationship therewith, a recessformed in said resilient member beneath said rigid mem-ber, a slotformed in said rigid member and overlying said recess, an elongatedlatch member pivotally mounted on said rigid member and positionedwithin said recess, and means connected to said rigid member andengageable with said latch member for urging same through said slot andinto a gap to prevent the movement of said resilient member in at leastone direction within said casing.

6. In a well casing consisting of a plurality of pipe lengths connectedin series by threaded couplings and forming gaps between adjacent pipelengths, an interliner comprising an elongated tubular resilient memberwhose external diameter is substantially equal to the internal diameterof said casing for engaging and gripping said casing when positionedtherein, a plate mounted on the outer face of said resilient member incoplanar relationship therewith, a Irecess formed in said resilientmember beneath said plate, a slot formed in said plate and overlyingsaid recess, a Iboss formed on said plate superjacent said slot andarranged to extend into said recess, a latch member positioned withinsaid recess, a keeper plate mounted on said boss and engaging said latchmember to retain same yin pivotal engagement with said boss, and springmeans connected to said boss and engaging said latch member forpivotally urging same through said slot and into a gap to prevent themovement of said resilient member in one direction within said casing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Ashbrook 166-179 X Roe 166-179 XTeague et a1. 166-207 Vestermark 166--100 Fons et al, 166--207 Lacey166-120 10 CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

IAN A. CALVERT, Assistant Examiner.

2. A WELL CASING SEALANT MEMBER COMPRISING A RESILIENT TUBULARINTERLINER, A MEMBER MOUNTED ON THE OUTER FACE OF SAID INTERLINER, ARECESS FORMED IN SAID INTERLINER BENEATH SAID MEMBER, A SLOT FORMED INSAID MEMBER AND OVERLYING SAID RECESS, AND ELONGATED ELEMENT PIVOTALLYMOUNTED ON SAID MEMBER AND POSITIONED WITHIN SAID RECESS, AND A SPRINGCONNECTED TO SAID ELEMENT FOR URGING SAME OUTWARDLY FROM SAID RECESS ANDTHROUGH SAID SLOT.